411 – During the January & February Shows In Ocala, Florida
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Judging the Judges
Recently, the UK Kennel Club announced that it was expanding its ‘Breed Watch System’. This system is supposed to act as a kind of ‘early warning’ for judges, allowing them to identify points of concern in individual breeds.
Competition vs. Sportsmanship – Are They Opposites?
When was the last time you saw a wonderful example of good sportsmanship? When was the last time you saw a glaring example of poor sportsmanship? Which do you see more often? And which are you a part of most often? If I told you that being a good sport could be very beneficial to you, would that get your attention?
Never Far from Its Origin – The Modern Bergamasco
In the beginning, man’s relationship with dogs was limited to hunting. With the evolution of the human species, raising crops and livestock became some of man’s most important livelihoods. Dogs became well integrated into human communities and immediately found a place in what can be seen as man’s first steps towards civilization. Together with man, the dog became a shepherd.
Real #Winning – Sportsmanship and Social Media
When I first created my Facebook profile as a young teenager, “social media” was still a new concept at that time and I was excited to finally explore all its potential. Naturally, my dogs soon dominated my Facebook as well as Instagram, Twitter, Snap Chat, etc. I am not alone in this phenomenon. As soon as the internet spits out a new social media platform, dog people have a knack for turning it to their benefit. In fact, many kennel clubs, breeders and handlers are more likely to use social media to promote themselves versus traditional websites or printed materials. Why? Social media panders to a wider audience along with a more specific audience depending upon the filters in place. Also, once a post is made, it is immediately viewable by anyone with access.
A New Low in Sportsmanship
What is the definition of sportsmanship? According to the dictionary, a sportsman can be defined as “a person who exhibits qualities highly regarded in sports, such as fairness, generosity, observance of the rules and GOOD HUMOR WHEN LOSING.”
Could it be Pythium?
Minka was one of those young dogs breeders dream about. She won the group, breeder/owner/handled, her first time out as a special, and shot up in the rankings within weeks. One night, after a huge breed win, she kept me up having to go out. By the next day it was obvious we needed to skip the rest of the weekend and head home. It would be her last show
The Smiling Dog – The History of the Samoyed
In the countries of the frozen far north, where vast herds of reindeer are kept by the indigenous people, several breeds of dog have been bred to control the movements of these docile, though somewhat stubborn animals. They also provided protection from packs of marauding wolves and bears.
Looking Around With Lee – Immigrant Handlers’ Stories
My article this month is in response to the news we hear daily with regard to new people coming to our shores. I can only write about what I know and the following is a bit about those I know who immigrated to the USA and found their place in our dog show world!
Normal Norman
It was bound to happen. Against all odds, shows are back, and even more shocking…entries are through the roof. No matter where it is or who is judging, entries have been maxing out in record time. Dogs from every part of the country are popping up in the most unexpected places. Really, I’m pretty sure if AKC announced a big show cluster on Mars, dog people would find a way to get there. A welcome relief for sure, but let’s face it, we need to complain about something. And yes, this part was also inevitable. We are back to complaining about too much competition. Heavyweight contenders are jetting all over the place to grab crucial breed points. Next thing you know, AKC will start jacking up the point schedules again.
